Im trying to get a list of line items to a webpage using JSON, which will then be manipulated and sent back to the server by ajax request using the same JSON structure that arrived (except having had a field values changed).
Receiving data from the server is easy, manipulation even easier! but sending that JSON data back to the server for saving... suicide time! PLEASE can someone help!
Javascript
var lineitems;
// get data from server
$.ajax({
url: '/Controller/GetData/',
success: function(data){
lineitems = data;
}
});
// post data to server
$.ajax({
url: '/Controller/SaveData/',
data: { incoming: lineitems }
});
C# - Objects
public class LineItem{
public string reference;
public int quantity;
public decimal amount;
}
C# - Controller
public JsonResult GetData()
{
IEnumerable<LineItem> lineItems = ... ; // a whole bunch of line items
return Json(lineItems);
}
public JsonResult SaveData(IEnumerable<LineItem> incoming){
foreach(LineItem item in incoming){
// save some stuff
}
return Json(new { success = true, message = "Some message" });
}
The data arrives at the server as serialized post data. The automated model binder tries to bind IEnumerable<LineItem> incoming and surprisingly gets the resulting IEnumerable has the correct number of LineItems - it just doesnt populate them with data.
SOLUTION
Using answers from a number of sources, primarily djch on another stackoverflow post and BeRecursive below, I solved my problem using two main methods.
Server Side
The deserialiser below requires reference to System.Runtime.Serialization and using System.Runtime.Serialization.Json
private T Deserialise<T>(string json)
{
using (var ms = new MemoryStream(Encoding.Unicode.GetBytes(json)))
{
var serialiser = new DataContractJsonSerializer(typeof(T));
return (T)serialiser.ReadObject(ms);
}
}
public void Action(int id, string items){
IEnumerable<LineItem> lineitems = Deserialise<IEnumerable<LineItem>>(items);
// do whatever needs to be done - create, update, delete etc.
}
Client Side
It uses json.org's stringify method, available in this dependecy https://github.com/douglascrockford/JSON-js/blob/master/json2.js (which is 2.5kb when minified)
$.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: '/Controller/Action',
data: { 'items': JSON.stringify(lineItems), 'id': documentId }
});